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Gala vs Ellice Agro-Industrial Corporation

FACTS:
Ellice Agro-Industrial Corporation was formed by spouses Manuel and Alicia Gala, their
children Guia Domingo, Ofelia Gala, Raul Gala, and Rita Benson, and their encargados Virgilio
Galeon and Julian Jader. The spouses transferred several parcels of land as payment of their
subscriptions. Subsequently, Guia Domingo, Ofelia Gala, Raul Gala, Virgilio Galeon and Julian
Jader incorporated the Margo Management and Development Corporation. Manuel Galathen
transferred his shares in Ellice to Margo and Raul Gala. Alicia transferred her shares to de Villa,
Ofelia, Raul and Margo. de Villa later on transferred his shares to Margo.
A special stockholders meeting of Margo was held where Raul Gala was elected as
chairman. During the meeting, the board approved several actions, including the commencement
of proceedings to annul certain dispositions of Margos property made by Alicia Gala. The board
also resolved to change the name of the corporation to MRG Management and Development
Corporation. Similarly, a special stockholders meeting of Ellice was held to elect a new board of
directors where Raul Gala, likewise, was elected as chairman.
Respondents filed against petitioners with the SEC a petition for the appointment of a
management committee or receiver, accounting and restitution by the directors and officers, and
the dissolution of Ellice Agro-Industrial Corporation for alleged mismanagement, diversion of
funds, financial losses and the dissipation of assets. Whereas, petitioners initiated a complaint
against the respondents praying for, among others, the nullification of the elections of directors
and officers of both Margo Management and Development Corporation and Ellice Industrial
Corporation and the return of all titles to real property in the name of Margo and Ellice, as well
as all corporate papers and records of both Margo and Ellice which are in the possession and
control of the respondents.
ISSUE:
WON SEC has authority to inquire on the matters.
HELD:
No. If a corporations purpose, as stated in the Articles of Incorporation, is lawful, then
the SEC has no authority to inquire whether the corporation has purposes other than those stated.
The best proof of the purpose of a corporation is its articles of incorporation and by-laws.
The articles of incorporation must state the primary and secondary purposes of the corporation,
while the by-laws outline the administrative organization of the corporation, which, in turn, is
supposed to insure or facilitate the accomplishment of said purpose. In the case at bar, a perusal
of the Articles of Incorporation of Ellice and Margo shows no sign of the allegedly illegal
purposes that petitioners are complaining of. It is well to note that, if a corporations purpose, as
stated in the Articles of Incorporation, is lawful, then the SEC has no authority to inquire whether
the corporation has purposes other than those stated, and mandamus will lie to compel it to issue
the certificate of incorporation.

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